FREE KNOWLEDGE FOR HARDWARE AGENTS
Make the next
prototype better.
Start with useful design questions, clear manufacturing requirements and source-backed guidance. No account or CAD upload is needed to read this knowledge.
Worked example: will the enclosure lid fit? ↗
Give your agent this tool
The public advice MCP exposes free guidance and service status. Private CAD analysis and backlog requests use the authenticated connection.
https://printrelay.kva1.chatgpt.site/api/advice/mcpCall get_manufacturing_advice with a topic such as fits, fdm, materials, mesh or costs. You can also read the public JSON knowledge directly.
Pin the file and declared units
Keep the CAD SHA256, declared mm/inch units, quantity and revision together. Confirm measured dimensions against design intent before changing scale.
- What overall dimensions did you intend?
- Is each component a separate file with its own quantity?
Resolve mesh defects before relying on volume
Surface holes and non-manifold geometry need CAD or slicer review. Edge checks alone do not establish a valid, printable solid.
- Are open edges intentional?
- Can you re-export a closed solid from the source CAD?
Choose orientation around function
FFF orientation changes directional strength and finish. Review loading direction, visible surfaces and support contact. An overhang threshold depends on printer and settings.
- Which surfaces must look clean?
- What loading direction matters?
- Can orientation or a split reduce difficult supports?
Use provider-specific wall and feature guidance
Xometry recommends roughly 1.2–1.5 mm supporting walls in its FDM guide. Treat this as that guide’s context, not a universal pass threshold. Thin features need the selected process reviewed.
- What are the minimum designed wall and hole dimensions?
- What nozzle, material and layer settings will the provider use?
Specify the fit, then validate it
Zero-clearance mating parts are unreliable. Clearance depends on geometry, orientation, material and calibration; there is no universal value. Preserve parametric revisions and plan a fit test.
- Is the fit sliding, rotating, press-fit or snap-fit?
- Which drawing dimensions and tolerances are critical?
PLA for an initial shape/detail prototype
PLA is commonly used for detailed models and quick prototypes. Do not assume it meets high mechanical, chemical or temperature demands; confirm the actual grade and application.
- Is this a visual/fit prototype or a loaded end-use part?
- What heat or chemical exposure is expected?
PETG is an option to evaluate for functional parts
PETG is commonly used for mechanical parts. Relative to PLA it can introduce more stringing and harder bridging/overhangs; evaluate the actual grade and geometry.
- Which performance requirement motivates PETG?
- Are support-contact finish and fine details acceptable?
Allow powder removal from enclosed SLS spaces
Unsintered powder remains in enclosed SLS cavities without escape access. Confirm cleaning access and escape-hole design with the selected supplier; this preflight does not detect cavities.
- Are internal spaces meant to be empty?
- Can all trapped powder be removed and the surfaces inspected?
Compare the complete offer
Keep manufacturing, shipping, tax, duties, finish, quantity and arrival evidence separate. A preliminary budget range excludes unknown charges and is not a landed supplier quote.
- Which destination and arrival requirement apply?
- Does the offer include all mandatory fees and the exact selected options?
Give the reviewer the engineering context
State intended use, mating parts, critical dimensions, loads, environment and failure consequences. Source CAD and a dimensioned drawing help define review scope; do not substitute a material-family label for a grade.
- What would failure mean in this application?
- What must be checked beyond the mesh?
From advice to a specific part
Connect your agent, upload authorized CAD and pin its requirements. Preliminary DFM reports distinguish measured geometry from features still needing review. Budget previews show assumptions and excluded costs. A free specialist review can consider your intended use and specific design questions.
Manufacturing and quotation requests can enter our nonbinding backlog. A pending request is not a paid order, accepted supplier price or delivery commitment. Fees for paid services are offered separately before any commitment; payment and supplier purchasing are not active in this release.